Federer sees off Mayer challenge

Roger Federer edged into the Hamburg Open semi-finals with a 7-6(4) 3-6 7-5 victory over a dogged Florian Mayer.

The Swiss, who is playing in his first tournament since suffering a shock second round exit at Wimbledon, was on court for just less than two hours as he continued his hunt for a second ATP World Tour title of the season.

The German proved a stiff challenge for Federer, who had not lost a set to the world No. 45 in their previous four meetings.

Federer took a tight opening set on the tie-break but was immediately pegged back in the second. With neither player giving an inch in the third, Federer squandered the chance of an early break in the third before finally finishing Mayer off in the 11th game.

Federer is a four-time champion in Hamburg, but is playing for the first time at the tournament since 2008.

The No. 1 seed will now face qualifier Federico Delbonis for a place in the final after the Argentinean completed a surprise 6-7(5) 7-6(8) 6-4 victory over Fernando Verdasco.

After enduring a tricky start to his Manchester United career, perhaps it is fair that Marcos Rojo celebrated so boisterously as he watched his first professional club Estudiantes beat fierce rivals Gimnasia